Career and Education Opportunities for Refrigeration Mechanics in San Francisco, California

There are many career and education opportunities for refrigeration mechanics in the San Francisco, California area. There are currently 19,700 working refrigeration mechanics in California; this should grow by 13% to about 22,200 working refrigeration mechanics in the state by 2016. This is not quite as good as the nation as a whole, where employment opportunities for refrigeration mechanics are expected to grow by about 28.1%. Refrigeration mechanics generally install and repair industrial and commercial refrigerating systems.

Refrigeration mechanics earn about $21 hourly or $45,730 yearly on average in California and about $19 hourly or $39,680 annually on average nationally. Earnings for refrigeration mechanics are the same as earnings in the general category of Heating and Air in California and the same as general Heating and Air category earnings nationally.

There are eighty-six schools of higher education in the San Francisco area, including four within twenty-five miles of San Francisco where you can get a degree to start your career as a refrigeration mechanic. Refrigeration mechanics usually hold a post-secondary certificate, so you can expect to spend a short time studying to be a refrigeration mechanic if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Refrigeration Mechanic

Refrigeration mechanics adjust or remove worn or faulty mechanisms and parts, and reassemble repaired systems. They also observe and test system operations, using gauges and instruments. Equally important, refrigeration mechanics have to test lines and connections for leaks. They are often called upon to braze or solder parts to repair faulty joints and leaks. They are expected to set up expansion and control valves, using acetylene torches and wrenches. Finally, refrigeration mechanics dismantle malfunctioning systems and test parts, using electrical and pneumatic testing equipment.

Every day, refrigeration mechanics are expected to be able to evaluate problems as they arise. They need to visualize how things come together and can be organized. It is also important that they see details at a very fine level of focus.

It is important for refrigeration mechanics to schedule efforts with customers and initiate work orders, house requisitions and orders from stock. They are often called upon to drill holes and install mounting brackets and hangers into floor and walls of building. They also set up wiring to connect parts to an electric power source. They are sometimes expected to fabricate and assemble structural and functional parts of refrigeration system, using hand tools and welding equipment. Somewhat less frequently, refrigeration mechanics are also expected to insulate shells and cabinets of systems.

Refrigeration mechanics sometimes are asked to perform mechanical overhauls and refrigerant reclaiming. They also have to be able to insulate shells and cabinets of systems And finally, they sometimes have to set up wiring to connect parts to an electric power source.

Like many other jobs, refrigeration mechanics must be reliable and be thorough and dependable.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Refrigeration Mechanic Training

Chabot College - Hayward, CA

Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545. Chabot College is a large college located in Hayward, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 14,299 students. Chabot College has a two to four year program in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC.

College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA

College of San Mateo, 1700 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402-3784. College of San Mateo is a large college located in San Mateo, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 11,215 students. College of San Mateo has one to two year, associate's degree, and two to four year programs in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC which graduated eight, zero, and zero students respectively in 2008.

City College of San Francisco - San Francisco, CA

City College of San Francisco, 50 Phelan Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112-1898. City College of San Francisco is a large college located in San Francisco, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 49,897 students. City College of San Francisco has a two to four year program in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC.

Laney College - Oakland, CA

Laney College, 900 Fallon St, Oakland, CA 94607. Laney College is a large college located in Oakland, California. It is a public school with primarily 2-year programs and has 13,104 students. Laney College has less than one year, one to two year, associate's degree, and two to four year programs in Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Technology/Technician (ACH/ACR/ACHR/HRAC/HVAC which graduated eight, twelve, one, and zero students respectively in 2008.

Test and Balance Technician:
Test and Balance Technicians perform field testing and analysis of HVAC systems; make system adjustments; record readings; and prepare test and balance reports for approval by the agency TBE.

Standard Journeyman Plumber:
The International Code Council's National Contractor Trades Examination Program is an independent testing program designed to provide licensing agencies with information regarding.

NAFA Certified Technician:
The NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) Program was first introduced to NAFA members in January 1999 as an effort to add more credibility and professionalism to the air filtration industry.

Solar Thermal Installer Certification:
The NABCEP solar thermal installer certification is a voluntary certification that provides a set of national standards by which solar thermal installers with skills and experience can distinguish themselves from their competition.

LOCATION INFORMATION: San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California photo by Optigan13

San Francisco is located in San Francisco County, California. It has a population of over 808,976, which has grown by 4.2% in the past ten years. The cost of living index in San Francisco, 180, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in San Francisco cost $218,300 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, fifty-seven new homes were built in San Francisco, up from fifty-five the previous year.

The three most popular industries for women in San Francisco are professional, scientific, and technical services, health care, and educational services. For men, it is professional, scientific, and technical services, accommodation and food services, and construction. The average travel time to work is about 31 minutes. More than 45.0% of San Francisco residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 16.4%, is higher than the state average.

The percentage of San Francisco residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 41.8%, is less than both the national and state average. Gold Mountain Monastery, Golden Gate Community Church of the Nazarene and Golden Gate Lutheran Church are among the churches located in San Francisco. The most common religious groups are the Catholic Church, the Muslim Estimate and the United Methodist Church.

San Francisco is home to the Pier 88 and the Prayer Book Cross as well as Helen Wills Playground and Music Concourse. Shopping malls in the area include Yerba Buena Square Shopping Center, Fox Plaza Shopping Center and Galleria At Crocker Center Shopping Center. Visitors to San Francisco can choose from Astoria Hotel, A-1 Inn Motel and Best Western Canterbury Hotel for temporary stays in the area.